POTTY TRAINING TIPS and Tricks!!

Oh Crap! And yes we are talking Poop! Everyone needs to learn to use the toilet and every child is unique and different! We fully converted our diaper loving kiddo to the toilet in 3 weeks! Say What?!! Yup! Here is my take and advice, use some, none or all! Its up to you!

Tip 1: Definitely read the Oh Crap Potty Training by Jamie Glowaki. https://a.co/d/eaYJi8A

Tip2: Take some of that great info and then here’s what we did DIFFERENTLY!! Every child is unique and different. I read her book and freaked that my kiddo (also named Jamie) was GASP! 3 and not yet using the toilet! But then I realized, he won’t go to college ina pull-up (wait, unless he decides to do NYE in Times Square!)

Tip2B: Let me back up. Age 2 was a HUGE year! I left him alone not just over night but for an entire week for the 1st time! Gasp, he had to learn that Momma can go away! He had ear tubes put in (I’ll explain that another time). He gave up the binky/pacifier. We had to fly to NY for a trip and then had 3 weeks before another trip. So, yeah, can not do all of this at ONE TIME! So, at the ripe (no pun intended) of 26 months we started potty training. Keep reading for my tips and tricks!

Tip 3: CLOTH Pull-Ups https://a.co/d/5Abu82Z and Underwear a size TOO BIG. I’ve attached a link for some so that you get the idea. We had Blippi ones. This makes it really evident that any urinating or poop will not stay and become incredibly uncomfortable for them. Please, we did use pull-ups at 1st for naps and eventually the ninjamas https://a.co/d/guI03v7 at night. Once he started napping and being dry- Pull-ups Cloth only the rest of the time! And if they do poop. Rinse in toilet and then was 2x on hot in the washing machine.

Tip 4: The Elmo https://a.co/d/7NHM0fr or whatever potty that sits on the FLOOR! Yes, we had all the cool ones that go on the toilet from the Skip Hop Brand and others, but for the pooping especially the one he could just sit on worked the best! He literally told me he was afraid of falling in the adult toilet! We did make a game of dumping the poop in said toilet and flushing it down, but he was at least 4 before he was comfortable at home using the adult toilet for poop!

Tip 5: If you are vacationing, take the Elmo toilet from home if possible and if not take the seat topper and a step stool. I found a great one on Amazon. https://a.co/d/ePKSVc9 We liked it in blue, but lots of colors!

Tip 6: And this is a big one! Don’t give a toddler the Big Boy or Big Girl Bed, i.e. Toddler bed until they can go all day without an accident! Use this as a reward! Did you know that the CRIB (Gasp) is the SAFEST place for small people to be?! Yes, I know that a 2 or even 3 year old may try and climb out. Explain that this is not ok and sit them back down. Now, if they continue to climb out then, make a decision for sure.

Tip 7: Do not use Food as a reward! Definitely make it fun. Cheerios in the toilet is a great target they can aim for! Do Not discipline for accidents! They happen! Celebrate the victories and correct the accidents! Going back to the cloth pull-ups a size too big, know why so many kids initially do not succeed?? When we move a tight fitting diaper to a tight fitting pull-up, their bodies do not feel any different and thus, they don’t recognize the necessity to use the potty!

Tip 8: If your kiddo is like mine, he resisted the poop the longest. I figured out while he was in diapers his favorite spot to “hide” and then when he would try to go there around his usually pooping time, we would navigate him to the toilet. Trust me, 1 or 2 poops in cloth and they quickly realize Yuck-Y!

Tip 9: Now, this one is definitely going to be what should be common sense, but I’m going to say it. Make certain your toddler seems interested in the toilet and allow them to see you, yes YOU, using the toilet and how it all works. It is much easier to model a behavior that makes sense than is kept secret. Its NORMAL for a child to be interested in what you are doing, so let them know. Maybe have their stuffy practice on the potty, and please make it fun! Jamie and I watched the Daniel Tiger episode where he uses the potty (https://pbskids.org/videos/watch/daniel-doesnt-want-to-go-potty-daniel-sits-on-the-potty/35595) several times and even 3 years later he’ll sing the song: When you have to go potty, stop and go right away!

So, there you have it! Hopes this helps.

https://a.co/d/eaYJi8A